Jay Beagle News

Fourth-line forward Jay Beagle, who has been out with a concussion since October, has been cleared for full participation in practice, including contact drills, according to a team spokesman.

Beagle practiced with the fourth line this morning and could draw back into the lineup within the upcoming weeks.

Jay Beagle
Mike Green (groin) and Jay Beagle (concussion) both skated Monday and Tuesday, a team spokesman said. There is no timetable for either to return to the lineup.

Beagle hasn't played since getting knocked out by Arron Asham. He remains out indefinitely but it's a good sign that he is at least skating on his own.

Jay Beagle
Jay Beagle was hopeful that he'd be practicing with the Capitals very soon after making his first appearance back on the ice Friday. That wasn't the case Monday.

With Cody Eakin recalled from the Hershey Bears, the team's current fourth line looks a bit crowded. Look for Beagle to fight for his playing time, further decreasing his fantasy hockey value.

Jay Beagle
On Thursday, coach Bruce Boudreau was asked if Beagle had a concussion. He did not confirm or deny. “You can infer what you want,” Boudreau said, “but he’s day-to-day.” There is no timetable for Beagle to return to practice.

Certainly sounds like Jay Beagle does indeed have a concussion. Look for D.J. King and Matthieu Perreault to continue filling his spot on the fourth line.

Jay Beagle
But Beagle has not skated since, and Boudreau said Tuesday he had no idea when the forward would be back on the ice. Asked for an update, the coach said only “he's smiling in the dressing room.”

Beagle likely has a concussion, which the team is trying to keep undisclosed. Look for DJ King and Matthieu Perreault to fill in for him on the fourth line.

Jay Beagle
“I talked to him and other than a fat lip, he was fine,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I thought, initially, like everybody else, that [a concussion is] what it would've been. But he doesn't have any of the symptoms as of now.”

Beagle has no symptoms after one day but that doesn't completely mean he is in the clear to play tomorrow.

Jay Beagle
I think he’s just got to be a physical force.... He’s a younger Matt Bradley and hopefully he can grow into that role.

The undrafted forward scored two goals and an assist in 31 games for the Caps last season. He figures to make the team and slot onto the fourth line alongside Matt Hendricks and Jeff Halpern.

Jay Beagle